Community Center

Dec 19, 2011 2:14 PMPublication: The Southampton Press

Flanders, Riverside And Northampton Community Notes, December 22

Dec 20, 2011 12:12 PM

Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and happy New Year to all of my readers, friends and neighbors. This year has gone by way too quickly, and it seems like I can never get to everything that I need to. Better luck next year, I guess.

As far as resolutions go, you should all be familiar with my feelings on those. Why make crazy resolutions that you know you won’t keep when you can make a few small ones that you can keep. Call it the “glass half full” view or see it for what it is: Baby steps that will help you build up to your one big resolution.

Instead of saying, “I will stop smoking this year” and quitting cold turkey on January 1, why not say this?: “By the end of this year, I will no longer be smoking.” That way, you can take baby steps to achieve your goal rather than giving yourself an immediate deadline. Nobody works well under pressure and the last person in the world you want to let down is yourself. So small, attainable resolutions are better goals—in my opinion.

Now the small things ... I say go for them! “I will hug my children and tell them I love them every day.” That sounds like a great resolution to me!

Whatever your resolutions may be, I wish you a successful, healthy new year full of wishes come true and, of course, a little good luck to carry you through. Enjoy your holidays with your family and friends, and cherish the time you spend together. Life is short and you don’t want to miss a thing.

Happy birthday wishes are going out to several of our Flanders friends over the next two weeks. Theresa Gallo and Al Lopez celebrated on Wednesday, December 21, and on Thursday, December 22, Flanders Little League Coach Christina Rogers will blow out her candles. All the members of Flanders Little League, especially her team, wish her a fabulous birthday.

Happy birthday wishes also go out to Mike Merker on Monday, December 26, and to Amy Smith and Ken Powell on Saturday, December 31. Happy birthday to you all!

The Phillips Avenue School, in conjunction with the Phillips Avenue Parents Association (PAPA), held its inaugural Family Holiday Night on Friday, December 16, at the school. More than 350 people were in attendance! There was a cupcake decorating station, a craft station, and the movie “Frosty the Snowman” played on the big screen at the third station.

Many thanks to Patti Horton for supplying the cupcakes and supplies, to Theresa Curry for coordinating the craft station, and to all of the parents and staff who volunteered and helped out. I would publish the names of all those who support PAPA, but I would need two columns to list them all!

Thanks also go out to all of the families who came out to share in this special celebration, and to the custodians who set up and, more importantly, cleaned up afterward. We can’t forget to send a special thank you to Principal Debra Rodgers for helping coordinate the festivities, and to Associate Principal Dr. Stephen Hudson for wearing his “OK, I’ll do it” T-shirt that night. Additionally, many thanks to Ginny and Lilly in the office for all of the things they do for PAPA and the children.

Flanders Little League and Fisher Landscaping donated two bikes that were raffled off that night. Congratulations to winners Aiden Roche and Kaylah Swann. Joyce Anderson also made out pretty well as she won the 50/50 raffle. It was a wonderful night all around and a great time was had by all.

And don’t forget about the Hampton Idol auditions that are being held on Friday, January 6, for Southampton Town residents in grades seven through 12. The auditions will begin at 4 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Community Center on Ponquogue Avenue. Contestants should bring their own music (without vocals) and the finalists will compete for the title of Hampton Idol on March 24 at Southampton High School. For more information, please call the Youth Bureau at 702-2425.

That is all for this year, friends. I thank you for reading and wish you the happiest of holidays and the happiest, healthiest new year. Be safe and be well—we’ll chat again next year.